People Planes Places

0 Comments | Naval Aviation News, Jan, 2002 | by Dan Ball

JOSN Dan Ball

Scan Pattern

The Sailors and Marines aboard Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) received a symbol of America following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks: the flag flown at "Ground Zero" in New York City. This is the same flag that was raised by three New York City firefighters in a recent photograph which some media have compared to the historic image of U.S. Marines raising the American flag at Iwo Jima in WW II. On 23 September, New York Governor George Pataki and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani signed the flag and gave it to C1NCLANTFLT Adm. Robert J. Natter, with the intent that it be flown over naval forces deployed overseas in response to the terrorist attack. Adm. Natter accepted the flag and directed that it be sent to Theodore Roosevelt. "This flag represents the spirit and courage of all Americans 2 he said. "It has incredible meaning for all our Sailors and Marines, and we're proud to fly it aboard our most powerful warships. It will serve as both a remembrance and as a motivator for our forward-deployed nav al forces." The Navy will return the flag to the New York City Fire Department when the TR battle group returns from deployment.

OPM ADOPTS CARRIER

On 26 October the captain and the 5,500 crew members of Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) were adopted and feted by Kay Cole James, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and employees of the federal agency headquartered in the Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building, Washington, D.C. The adoption of the carrier will be marked by months of special projects, including the delivery of care packages to crew members containing baked goods, snacks, books and magazines. A 12-foot-long banner signed with greetings from OPM employees will also be delivered.

Navy personnel who are thinking about ways to invest their money for retirement should look into what the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) has to offer. Active duty members and reservists in any pay status can start signing up to make TSP contributions that offer significant tax incentives. Much like a 401(K), the TSP is designed to provide retirement funds for military members. It is transferable to other retirement accounts and not tied to the military retirement system.

Enrollment forms are available on the Navy Personnel Command website at www.persnet.navy.mil or www.bupers.navy.mil; as well as at www.tsp.gov by selecting the "Uniformed Services" option. When completed, forms should be turned in to the servicing personnel support detachment or the ship's personnel office. The hardest decision is selecting the investment choice and the amount to contribute. All investment funds are fully explained in NAVADMIN 258/01 and at www.tsp.gov.

The open season for enrollment ends on 31 January 2002. For personnel who missed the special enrollment period, others are available: 15 May through 31 July and 15 November through 31 January annually.

Reserve personnel who are ordered to active duty for more than 30 days can make TSP selections outside an open season. Also individuals who enlist, reenlist after a break in service or accept a commission in the regular Navy or the Naval Reserve will be able to participate in TSP outside of regular open seasons. They must enroll within 60 days of being sworn in to active duty or entering in a pay status with the reserves.

For more details go to www.tsp.gov and select "Questions and Answers" under the "Uniformed Services" option.

Records

SECNAV Gordon R. England reported that FY 2001 was the best year ever for Navy and Marine Aviation Class A mishaps. The Department of Navy led the way for the Department of Defense with a 35 percent reduction from FY 00.

The HS-11 Dragonslayers passed 10 years of Class A mishap-free operations on 9 October 2001.

VMGR-252 passed 375,000 Class A mishap-free hours on 11 May 2001.

Rescues

On 26 August 2001, Boxer (LHD 4) responded to a distress call from a sinking Taiwanese fishing boat 640 miles off the coast of Guam. The boat had suffered an engine room fire and was flooding. Boxer's search and rescue teams arrived on scene to find the boat's crew preparing to abandon ship. The SAR swimmers deployed with life rafts, picked up the crew and waited for Boxer's rigid hull inflatable boat, which transported the fishermen back to the amphibious assault ship. The victims stayed on Boxer as guests until the ship reached Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

RELATED ARTICLE: A Civilian Salutes the Military

"You Don't Know Me"

By Linda Ellis (c) 2001

Although you don't know me,

every day I think of you.

I worry about your safety

and I pray for you, too.

Although you don't know me, and

my face you've never seen,

I picture you on a carrier

or flying an [F/A-18].

Although you don't know me,

please know that I care.

Though strangers, we are family

in the beliefs that we share.

Although you don't know me,

I know the work that you're doing

and the pride in our country that you

are renewing.

Although you don't know me,

you have my utmost respect

for it's the future of my children

you are there to protect.